Fall fun? Bring it!

Thursday

Oct 18, 2018 at 4:47 PMOct 19, 2018 at 8:11 AM

Festivals, music, Jeeps and creeps. The busiest days of the year are here

The Gators have a bye week, which means it is Marion County’s time to play.

One Saturday every October there is no UF football to watch. That is when many beloved annual events crowd onto the calendar to give Marion County something to do as the weather gets — or is supposed to get — cooler.

Well, this is that weekend. Actually, this is the start of two breathless fall weekends overflowing with arts, entertainment and Halloween ghouls. Here is a guide to the largest fall events during the busiest two weekends of the year:

FRIDAY

Blessed Trinity Carnival: Now in its 69th year, this beloved staple with the giant neon midway runs through Sunday at Blessed Trinity School, 5 SE 17th St., Ocala. Organizers say it usually attracts more than 100,000 people over its four days.

Hours: 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Unlimited-ride wristbands will be available for $35 on Sunday. Admission is free except after 6 p.m. on Saturday — Family Night — when there is a $5 entrance fee for guests without a wristband voucher. Families with children will be admitted for free.

1890s Festival: More than 30,000 people will flood into the tiny town of McIntosh. Now in its 41st year, the art festival will include live music, about 280 artists, craft makers and antique vendors. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in and around Van Ness Park. McIntosh is off U.S. 441 in north Marion County.

Jazz Up Dunnellon Music Festival: The fall street party will feature live music on 10 stages. Hours: 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue in Dunnellon.

FRIDAY, OCT. 26

Marion County Fair: Large fair will include arts, livestock, Fearless Flores, illusionist Joshua Knotts, musicians, pageants, Parade of Bikes and a llama/alpaca show. It will run Oct. 26 through Nov. 4 at 7730 E.County Road 25, Belleview.

Admission is $5, $3 for ages 11 and younger and free for 18 months and younger.

Ocala Pumpkin Run: This car show has evolved into a large family festival. It will include hot rods, pony rides, a mechanical bull, pumpkin decorating, drone racing, monkey shows, tractor hayrides, motocross, disc-catching dogs and Burnyzz burn-out challenges.

Ocala Arts Festival: This is the granddaddy of fall fun – a 52-year-old, two-day festival with a juried art show, multiple stages of entertainment, family activities, student art show, student art-making and that blissful smell of funnel cakes from the Ocala downtown square to Citizens’ Circle at City Hall.

Nightmare on Pine Street: 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 27 at Wayne’s World, 4841 S. Pine Ave., across the street from the Ocala Drive-In. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for ages under 12. Proceeds benefit Marion County Toys for Tots and the Ocala Firefighter's Cathy's Kids Christmas Campaign.

Jaycees Haunted House “Hostel 939": 9 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 3, as well as Oct. 31, in the new Alchemy Ballroom, 939 N. Magnolia Ave., north of downtown Ocala. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for ages under 12.

Phantoms of the Fort: Ghosts, goblins and ghouls return to Fort King — the actual fort — for an evening of spooky tales. 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 27 at Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 E. Fort King St., Ocala.